ANNUAL LAKEFRONT FESTIVAL IN HOBART
The city of Hobart will host the 35th annual Lakefront Festival from 5 p.m. Thursday through 9 p.m. Sunday at Festival Park, 111 E. Old Ridge Road, along the Lake George waterfront in Hobart. The annual community tradition will feature four days of live entertainment, food and craft vendors, a Kid’s Zone, family activities and a beer garden. The Festival will culminate Sunday with the Dam Duck Race and Duck Tape and Cardboard Regatta. Additional festival information is available at: cityofhobart.org/204/Lakefront-Festival. Cardboard regatta information is available at: cityofhobart.org/418/Dam-Duck-Tape-Cardboard-Boat-Race. For updates and announcements, follow the city of Hobart on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
HEBRON CHAMBER HOSTS BLOCK PARTY
The Hebron Chamber of Commerce will host its second annual block party from noon to 7 p.m. Saturday at Country Square Plaza in Hebron. This free, family-friendly event will feature an artisan market, cornhole tournament, bounce house, chili cookoff, live music from The Sharks and Party Foul, beer garden, 50/50 raffle and food trucks. In addition, the Stagecoach Inn and Panhandle Depot will be showcasing their newly acquired stagecoach. Representatives from multiple community organizations will participate, including the Parks Department, Fire Department and local philanthropic groups. An afterparty will follow the festivities at Region Bowl, 725 IN-2, Hebron. For more information or to sign up for a booth, visit HebronChamber.com.
NATIONAL TRAILS DAY FEATURES TWO GARY EVENTS
Two events celebrating National Trails Day will take place on Saturday in Gary. First will be a celebration at the future trailhead of the Gary ELevated trail, 1040 Massachusetts St. At this site, tours will be offered on a section of the abandoned railroad that will be cleared and made accessible for visitors. A bike rodeo for children will also be held, providing education on riding and bicycle safety. Minor bike repairs will be provided free of charge by Grand Calumet Bikes. Local artist Johnathon Arce will be on hand painting murals on the two bridge piers along Massachusetts Street. Following will be a ribbon cutting for the newest section of the Marquette Greenway within the Indiana Dunes National Park. This event will take place at 3 p.m. at the Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education, 100 North Lake St., Gary. The Marquette Greenway is a planned 60-mile off-road trail from Chicago to New Buffalo, Mich. To learn more about the current progress, visit www.in.gov/nirpc/transportation/the-marquette-greenway-project-site/.
CIVIL WAR PROGRAM IN VALPARAISO
Porter County Museum will set up a Civil War encampment from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday on the south lawn of the Porter County Courthouse in Valparaiso to interpret the county’s participation in the conflict that divided the nation. The immersive demonstration, featuring living-history re-enactors dressed in period costume, is free of charge and suitable for all ages. Porter County Museum, 20 Indiana Ave. in downtown Valparaiso, is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday, with free admission. Free half-hour guided tours are offered on the third Saturday of every month at 11 a.m. For more information, visit pocomuse.org or find @pocomuse on social media.
UPCOMING PROGRAMS AT GARY LIBRARY
The annual Summer Reading Program, “Unearth a Story,” begins Saturday at all units of the Gary Public Library. The six-week program, for students in pre-school through 12th grade, continues until July 18 at the Main Library, 220 W. Fifth Ave., and ends July 16 at the Kennedy Branch, 3953 Broadway, and the Woodson Branch, 501 S. Lake St. Complete rules and sign-up sheets are available at all library units or on the library’s website, www.garypubliclibrary.org. A special Summer Reading Program Kick-Off will be held from noon to 3 p.m. at the Main Library on Saturday. The Miller Garden Club will present an Heirloom Roses Talk and Tour at 10 a.m. at the Woodson Branch at 10 a.m. on Saturday. Rose-inspired refreshments will be served. The program is free. Budgeting Basics Workshop for Teens will be held at 3 p.m. June 9 at the Woodson Branch. This free interactive financial literacy workshop is designed for middle- and high-school students and features practical budgeting skills using real-world examples. Seandrea Earls, a Northwest Indiana resident and veteran tax expert, will present the program. A special Water Safety Talk at the Main Library will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. on Thursday. Special guest speaker will be a representative from Blue Flow Great Lakes Organization. The program is free. For more information, contact 219-886-2484, Ext. 104. All locations of the Gary Public Library will be closed on Friday, June 19, for the Juneteenth Holiday. Library service will resume on June 20. More information can be found at www.garypubliclibrary.org.
LAKE COUNTY HOLDS BLOOD DRIVE
The public is encouraged to join members of the Lake County Council, its staff and employees throughout the Lake County Government Center as they roll up their sleeves to help the American Red Cross address a critical blood shortage. Appointments to donate blood are being accepted from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 8, 9 and 10 in the 3rd Floor County Council Conference Room at the Lake County Government Center, 2293 N. Main St., Crown Point. Use the east entrance. Participating donors receive a $15 e-gift card to a merchant of their choice. Those who donate during the council’s blood drive will also be entered into a sweepstakes drawing by the Red Cross for one of two $7,500 e-gift cards. Sign up on the council’s Facebook page, by calling 219-755-3280 Ext. 411, or at redcrossblood.org.
MINDFUL MARKET PROMOTES HEALTHY MEALS
Franciscan Health is again partnering with Strack & Van Til Food Market to help consumers learn how to make the healthiest, most budget-friendly decisions at the grocery store. The next Mindful Market Grocery Store Tour will take place from noon to 2 p.m. June 10 at Strack and Van Til, 12 Ridge Road, Munster. Led by a Franciscan Health educator and Strack & Van Til staff, the tour will offer tips on preparing for grocery shopping trips, navigating the store, choosing foods that support wellness, budgeting, utilizing store sales, coupons and loyalty programs, and using the Strack & Van Til app. The event is free, but space is limited and registration is required. Registration can be found at franciscanhealthcare.formstack.com/forms/mindful_market_grocery_store_tour. For questions or more information, contact Marissa Lyshon at marissa.lyshon@franciscanalliance.org.
